T

he National Police have shown they mean business in handling cases of counterfeit money following the arrest of three suspects allegedly involved in producing, distributing and using fake banknotes.

“We have arrested three new suspects. All are civilians,” Brig. Gen. Agung Setya, director for economic and special crimes at the National Police’s Criminal Investigation Department, told reporters on Friday.

The three suspects are Eko Yulianto, aka Handoko, who allegedly produced counterfeit banknotes; Hariyanto, who reportedly used the banknotes; and Aris Munandar, who is suspected of helping Handoko put watermarks on the money.

The police confiscated 50 bundles of counterfeit Rp 100,000 (US$7,63) banknotes and 40 bundles of Rp 50,000 banknotes from Handoko’s house. They also found two printers and a paper cutting tool during the raid. Handoko is a recidivist who was previously arrested by the police in 1999.

“We have to appreciate the National Police’s work because they have not only arrested suspects involved in the downstream industry, but also one involved in the upstream industry,” said Hasiholan Siahaan, Bank Indonesia’s data management and counterfeit money prevention division head.